I am truly sad to say, I am going to have to take a break from the message boards for a bit, not just here but all the ones I am a part of, how long I am not sure.

I am currently going through a major insomnia phase, along with some personal problems, work around the home, and work at work. In fact for a while I was spending more time at my job on the various boards than doing actual work. While I still got the jobs done, I had to put in undocumented OT to cover the time I spent on the web.

To put it simply, I have to focus a little more on the real world and a little less on the virtual one.

Being out here isn't and never was a bad thing, I met many great people, had long and interesting discussions and made probably more "web friends" than I've ever had real friends at any time in my life.

I'll be back, have no fear, but I need to get my life a little straightened out first. I am sure you have all been through similar periods and can understand - that is one of the great things about being out here, meeting those who know what you have and are going through and can talk about it.

With eternal friendship and affection,

The Dark Waters

Douglas Charles DeGraw

I'm living in the Shadows and the Night,
Wrapped in warm darkness, safe and sure.
My Path shines by the Moon's fragile light,
It frees my Mind and keeps my Heart pure.

The Tides of Time have risen and fell, and Lo! they have deposited a weary drifter upon your shores once again.

Many things in my life have changed since I left nearly a year ago. Notice I say "Changed" and not necessarily "Improved," but I think I can feel comfortable again spending time on the boards. I am further proud to say that the PL is the first, and so far only, I have come back home to. And this always did feel like home.

I have a new job within my company, as an Operations Center Technician instead of a Field Technician. Within a month I will be moving to my preferred Night Shift. It has odd hours - 12 hour shift (6 am/pm to 6 pm/am) but with rotating days (4 days on, 4 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, etc.) - but it does mean a raise of about $3/hr, no out of town work, and better responsibility. It does have downsides too, but right now I feel they are worth it.

There are other things I will share about my real-world walkabout as time passes but I just wanted to greet you all once again with a great and heart-felt:

Blessed Be!

I'm living in the Shadows and the Night,
Wrapped in warm darkness, safe and sure.
My Path shines by the Moon's fragile light,
It frees my Mind and keeps my Heart pure.

Always good to see an old friend return from walkabout, even if it is only a temporary stop!

Congratulations on your new position, and change is always good in some way... At the very least it keeps us on our toes and stops us from Stagnating. lol. I know it doesn't always seem very helpful though.

Trying to create a world, even in words, is good occupational therapy for lunatics who think they're God, and an excellent argument for Polytheism. -S.M. Stirling